Movie Monday July 10: Chef

After a bit of a break, I’m back with another movie recommendation. My pick this week is Chef, one of my favorite foodie films and the first collaboration between filmmaker and actor Jon Favreau and chef Roy Choi. It’s a film full of heart, delicious food, and an ensemble cast with chemistry to spare.

**Warning, mild spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t watched the movie yet, what are you doing?**

Carl Casper (Jon Favreau), head chef of Galoise in Los Angeles, has come to a head in his life. Though he is well liked in his kitchen and a talented chef, he clashes with owner Riva (Dustin Hoffman). Carl also has a strained relationship with his son Percy (Emjay Anthon) and ex-wife Inez (Sofía Vergara). After a scathing review by a prestigious food critic Ramsey Michel (Oliver Platt), Carl takes to Twitter and publicly insults him, gains an online following, and challenges Ramsey to a ‘rematch’. He comes up with a new menu, but leaves after a confrontation with Riva. After he’s served the same menu he ate the first time, Ramsey negatively tweets about Carl which leads to a confrontation in the restaurant. Videos of the confrontation go viral, making Carl unemployable. Down on his luck, he goes to Miami, his home town, with Inez and Percy. He rediscovers his love for Cuban food and decides to run a food truck. Carl and Percy renovate the truck, with help from Gauloise line cook Martin (John Leguizamo). All three drive the truck from Miami to LA, stopping in New Orleans and Austin where they are met with crowds thanks to Percy promoting on social media. They serve Cuban sandwiches, as well as local favorites like po’boys and brisket. Carl also begins to bond with Percy and teaches him about cooking. Back in LA, Ramsey visits the truck and explains his bad reviews. He was an early fan, but felt that recent meals were beneath Carl’s talent. After trying the food truck, he offers to bankroll a new restaurant. Finally finding his creative voice, Carl makes the restaurant a success and reunites with his old kitchen family and Inez and Percy.

What did I think?

The first thing that has to be mentioned about Chef is how the food and cooking is not only delicious but depicted realistically. The opening sequence includes Jon Favreau butchering a whole pig, something the actor actually did. He and the other actors learned how to actually cook, making the food and the kitchens that more believable. Every time I watch this movie, I get a hankering for a cubano and barbecue brisket. This is truly a film made by people who love food for people who love food. Favreau and culinary advisor Roy Choi crafted a love letter to people who work in restaurants and all aspects of the culinary world.

Chef not only boasts an impressive roster of dishes, but also an impressive ensemble cast. Favreau pulls from his Marvel movie connections and casts Scarlett Johansson as hostess Molly and Robert Downey Jr. as Marvin, Inez’s first ex-husband. Both actors have small parts compared to the others, but are both excellent, especially Downey. Hollywood legend Dustin Hoffman makes the antagonistic Riva the perfect person to clash with Favrea’s Carl. Everyone is great, but child actor Emjay Anthony has such great chemistry with Favreau and John Leguizamo. The entire roadtrip sequence has many nuanced moments between the three actors, further adding to the realism and relatability.

A lot of people like to criticize blockbuster franchises like Marvel and the creatives behind those movies. They are called unoriginal, not real filmmakers, sellouts etc., and to some extent I understand that. To me, though, a film like Chef shows that those same creatives are capable of making a nuanced film full of emotion, chemistry, and realism. While Favreau is known for his Marvel and Star Wars projects, this film is a personal favorite that showcases his talents as a writer, director, and actor. I’m normally not a fan of someone doing all three for one movie, at least one role almost always falls to the wayside, but I can make an exception for Chef.

One moment that made me laugh:

When Carl meets Marvin, his ex-wife’s ex-husband. The confusing banter between Favreau and Downey is offbeat and funny with some of it improvised. The entire sequence is bizarre, but in a good way that sheds light on Carl’s character and his relationship with Inez. RDJ’s Marvin is probably one of my favorite cameo characters I’ve seen to date that makes a huge impact with so little screen time, this being his only scene.

One moment that made my mouth water:

All the cooking scenes are beautifully shot, but the one that stands out to me is when Carl cooks the tasting menu he wanted to serve for Ramsey. Every dish looks impeccable and like something I’d want to try if not devour. From the little octopuses to the pork belly to the berries for dessert, every second of cooking and plating is a feast for the eyes. 

I’d give Chef 9 cubanos out of 10.